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Connor O'Neill

Northern Ireland players in focus: Who is playing where this weekend?

In the latest instalment of a new feature for  Belfast Live Sport  - our man Connor O'Neill takes a look at who the lads plying their trade in England are playing this weekend.

From the Premier League to League One, we've got all you need to know covered in what is expected to be another action-packed weekend of football across the water.

Premier League

Jonny Evan's Leicester will be looking to return to winning ways when they take on Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

Brendan Rodgers' side were held to a 2-2 draw against West Ham in their previous outing, leaving their hopes of a top seven finish hanging by a thread.

Two points ahead of the Foxes are Craig Cathcart's Watford, who, like Leicester, will also be looking to return to winning ways after being held to a 1-1 draw against Southampton on Tuesday night.

Despite falling behind after just 6 seconds against the Saints, Javi Garcia's side hit-back in stoppage time through Andre Gray to rescue themselves a point.

Championship

Fresh from being named in the PFA Championship team of the year, Jamal Lewis will be hoping his Norwich City side can collect the point needed to secure promotion back to the Premier League.

The Canaries were held to a 2-2 draw against Stoke on Monday, but with results going for them elsewhere, a point is all that is required against Corry Evans' Blackburn Rovers.

Evans, who was a notable omission from his side's squad which claimed a 2-0 win over Bolton on Monday, last featured for Tony Mowbray's side against Queens Park Rangers on Good Friday.

Corry Evans ((Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images))

Also fresh from being named in the PFA Championship team of the year, Oliver Norwood will be hoping his Sheffield United side can maintain their push for automatic promotion when they take on Ipswich Town at Bramall Lane.

United are three points clear of third-place Leeds with two games to go, and come into the game having recorded a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest and 3-0 win over Hull during the Easter period.

But while Norwood's side were collecting maximum points over the Easter period, the same couldn't be said for Leeds, the side of Stuart Dallas and Bailey Peacock-Farrell, who suffered back-to-back defeats to Wigan and Brentford, leaving their hopes of automatic promotion all but over.

Ezri Konsa Ngoyo and Stuart Dallas ((Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images))

Fuad Sule loving life at Larne, even if he had never heard of the place until last September  

Dallas played 72 minutes for the Whites at Griffin Park, while Peacock-Farrell was an unused substitute.

Elsewhere in the division, Middlesbrough's hope of claiming a place in the playoffs are hanging by a thread after a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Forrest on Monday.

The side of George Saville and Paddy McNair now sit outside the top six on goal difference, and know nothing but three points against Reading on the weekend will keep their promotion hopes alive.

George Saville ((Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images))

Meanwhile at the bottom of the division, Shane Ferguson's Millwall could take a huge step towards Championship survival with a win against Stoke.

The Lions suffered a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Monday, after being held to a 1-1 draw with Brentford on Good Friday - but despite the disappointing set-backs, Neil Harris' side are still three points above the drop zone.

The same, however, can't be said for Josh Magennis' Bolton Wanderers, who have already had their relegation confirmed, and take on Brentford on the back of four straight defeats. 

Barry Johnston hoping Sport and Leisure Swifts can pull off great escape  

League One

Will Grigg and Tom Flanagan's Sunderland have the chance to climb back into the hunt for automatic promotion when they take on Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light at the weekend.

The South Coast club sit two points above their hosts, with both sides having a game in hand on second-place Barnsley.

Jack Ross' side come into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw with Peterborough United on Monday - with Grigg completing the final 25 minutes at the ABAX Stadium, while Flanagan was an unused substitute.

Will Grigg ((Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images))

At the opposite end of the table, Paul Smyth's Accrington Stanley will be looking to confirm their place in the division for next year when they take on Plymouth Argyle at the Wham Stadium.

John Coleman's side secured a huge three points in the week with a 2-1 win over Doncaster - a game in which Smyth scored his side's second.

Queen's University boss Thompson hails players following promotion success  

Another side who have looked to have secured their safety for another year is Oxford.

The side of Mark Sykes and Gavin Whyte claimed a precious six points over the Easter period, and take on Doncaster on Saturday afternoon, with Whyte no doubting looking to build on the hat-trick he scored against Shrewsbury Town in his side's previous outing.

Gavin Whyte with the match ball after his hat-trick against Shrewsbury Town ((Photo by James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images))

Sitting comfortably in mid-table, Liam Boyce's Burton Albion take on Luton in a game which could see Mick Harford's side secure their second successive promotion.

But for Boyce's men, they will be looking to return to winning ways, after suffering a 3-2 defeat at Southend United in their last match.

Finally, Jordan Thompson's Blackpool could also have their say in the race to the Championship, as they take on Barnsley at Oakwell.

The Tykes currently sit second in the table, and face a Blackpool side who recorded a 2-1 win over Fleetwood on Monday - a game in which Thompson completed 63 minutes for his side.

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